By Greg Perkins
Hosting a very good and highly ranked Mingus team on Friday night, the Lobos showed why they, too, are deserving of a lofty seed in the upcoming post-season with a 37-17 win over the Marauders.
Kirt Solomon opened the scoring for Snowflake at the 6:58 mark of the first with a 28-yard field goal, putting the Lobos on top 3-0. Mingus later answered with a three-yard run, taking a 7-3 lead. Chase Walden capped a Snowflake scoring drive with a one-yard plunge for the only second quarter points, leaving the Lobos with a 10-7 half time lead.
The first half of the third period was a defensive struggle, but the second half was an offensive show. Facing fourth and long with 6:48 left in the third, Walden connected with Doug Brimhall on a fake punt play that covered 58 yards and increased the margin to 17-7. Mingus answered quickly, making it 17-14. With 4:02 left Walden again found Brimhall, this time from 37 yards out, making the score 23-17. With only 16 seconds left in the period Walden tossed his third touchdown of the quarter, this one from 15 yards out to Rick Shumway, pushing the lead to 30-17 heading to the fourth.
The only score in the fourth came late in the game when Nick Hall found pay dirt on a 16-yard run to ice the game for Snowflake.
Walden completed 13 of 26 passing attempts for 236 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Brimhall was his favorite target with seven catches for 162 yards and two scores. Braccin Tanner made two grabs good for 44 yards. Dallin Merrell had three receptions for 15 yards. Shumway had just one catch, but it was good for 15 yards and a touchdown.
On the ground Walden carried 22 times, gaining 160 yards. Merrell rushed eight times for 38 yards. Tanner had 11 totes for 36 yards. Hall carried three times, gaining 25 yards. Shumway gained 14 on five attempts and Brimhall rushed once for four yards.
The Lobos, now 7-2, will be on the road for their final regular season game on Friday, Oct. 26, at Safford, where they will face a Bulldog team that has is 2-7 record after dropping four straight games. Snowflake won this match up 49-7 a year ago and could be looking at a similar outcome this year. The Lobos will be hosting a first round state playoff game.